Vacuum air lock for a closed perimeter solvent conservation system

An apparatus for introducing and removing an article into and out of an enclosure for processing with a liquid containing volatile constituents, comprising:

• an air lock chamber operatively connected to the enclosure, the air lock chamber including an outer door for admitting the article into the chamber and an inner door through which the article can be transferred from the chamber into and out of the enclosure;
• a pump system connected to the air lock chamber that removes vapor of the liquid from the chamber prior to unloading the article for processing;
• and
• a closed loop liquid recovery system connected at opposite ends thereof to the enclosure that maintains the relative humidity of the liquid within the enclosure at a predetermined level.

A solvent conservation system for use with a cleaning device wherein articles are treated with a solvent, comprising:

• an enclosure configured to cover an access opening of the cleaning device and prevent escape of solvent vapor therefrom;
• an enclosed air lock having an internal air lock chamber and at least one opening that permits loading and unloading of the chamber with an article;
• a door that seals the access opening of the enclosure when closed, and permits loading and unloading of the enclosure when open, the air lock then being closed to the outside;
• a vacuum pump system that evacuates air from the air lock chamber when an article has been loaded therein from outside the system, and that evacuates solvent vapor from the air lock chamber when a treated article has been loaded therein from the enclosure;
• means for sealing the air lock chamber when the door is closed so that a vacuum is created in the air lock chamber during operation of the vacuum pump;
• and
• a solvent recovery system that condenses solvent vapor evacuated from the air lock chamber.

A portable air lock for transferring a article into and out of a solvent cleaning enclosure, which enclosure has an access opening, comprising:

• a bell having an opening that permits loading and unloading of the bell with an article from outside the system when the air lock is removed from the enclosure, and that permits loading and unloading of the bell when the air lock is positioned over the access opening in the enclosure;
• a support device that carries the article to be cleaned inside the bell;
• a seal interposed between the bell and the enclosure about the periphery of the enclosure access opening when the air lock is positioned over the access opening, which seal prevents emission of solvent vapors;
• and
• a device that operates within the bell to load and unload the support device carrying the article to and from the enclosure.